Always go with the moon Every fisherman dreams of a bigger catch! Is it possible to know beforehand when you should plan a trip to enjoy some fishing, catch more than usual, and come home feeling 100% satisfied? When I first started fishing, the best fishing time for me was whatever time happened to suit me. Every time I went out it was always dependent on having the day off or being given permission to go. We most always caught something but never anything startling. I always separated salt water fishing from freshwater fishing for some reason. I was on the Tongariro the other weekend, we counted some 40+ fish and threw every fly at them and all they did was move out of the way and this got me thinking. I had heard of the ‘fishing by the moon theory’ but had never put it to the test as it seems to complicated and my hobby was just that – a hobby it also gave me an excuse to go fishing when it suited and my mates. Every fisherman knows that the best fishing times are when the fish are feeding. This tends to be at the change of light, but what often goes unnoticed are the two periods elsewhere in the day - moonrise and moonset. Because the moon has an effect on a variety of factors surrounding the fish - including the live food that they hunt - these periods, combined with the moon's phase, are what triggers feeding. By understanding this, and choosing times when sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, you'll increase you chance of a good fishing catch. Assuming there are fish in the area, of course. There really is nothing complicated about this at all; it's just a matter of knowing ahead of time exactly when the sun and moon will rise and set. Fish are most active during 90-minute windows surrounding each of these four daily events; that's 45 minutes before and after these four daily points. Fishing during these four periods will help increase your fishing catch, but if you plan wisely so as to ensure you're at the water's edge on the days of new or full moon, you can use these 'windows' to reel in a catch like you've never done before. If you have to choose between sunrise/set and moonrise/set, always go with the moon as the moon is the stronger influence. Hunters have always known that fish and game are most active at dawn and dusk-sunrise and sunset-but their activity surrounding moonrise and moonset is less noticeable because these events are likely to occur without effecting any change in the perceived light. The rise and set of a new moon is invisible anyway, and overcast weather often hides the moon. Without prior knowledge of setting and rising times, two of the best fishing times will be missed every day! When planning your fishing by moon phase, there are certain other factors that should also be considered. Weather - severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. When a storm's brewing, or just after one has passed, is a good time. If this happens while you're in place, you'll be in for a treat! However, if there's a cold front approaching, the fish are likely to move deeper into the water and become inactive. Season - Most fish are more likely to bite willingly during seasonal transitions with the transition from winter to spring and summer to fall being the two best fishing times. Now that you know that moon phase fishing really works, there's no reason why you shouldn't utilize this knowledge to increase your own fishing catch by being at the ready with your rod during the best fishing times available. It's easy and it works!